Fixture support



Nov. 21, 196'] E. H. ARNOLD, JR 3,009,675

FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed June 6, 1958 INV EN TOR 50145460 ABA 0Z0, dz.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,009,675 FIXTURE SUPPORT Edward H.Arnold, Jr., 606 Pine St., New Orleans, La. Filed June 6, 1958, Ser. No.740,406 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-228) This invention relates to a fixturesupport, and more particularly to a support for electrical fixtures orelectrical ceiling boxes suspended from a ceiling.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a fixturesupported adapted to replace the conventional hangers which must bewired to the U-shaped bar hangers customarily installed in a ceiling.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a support ofthis character which may be readily adapted for use with any size ofeither threaded or unthreaded fixture stud.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a support orclip of this character which may be applied and locked in position onthe bar hanger prior to the stem installation.

An additional object of the invention is the provision 0t such a fixtureor clip which may alternatively have a fixture and stem and lock nutconnected thereto on the floor prior to attachment to the ceiling.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a fixturesupport which may be readily adjusted perpendicularly to the supportingbar hanger with a minimum of difficulty.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a fixturesupport which permits vertical adjustment of the fixture supportedthereby without the necessity of the provision of special attachments onthe stem or fixture.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a support orclip of this nature which may be readily stamped and formed from asingle strip of sheet metal.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such adevice which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable andeflicient in operation, and comparatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, install and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangementsof parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fullypointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying. drawingswherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of clamp or supportembodying features of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG.1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention it may here bepointed out that heretofore electrical ceiling boxes and fixtures havebeen suspended from hanger bars, which are conventionally formed ofchannel iron strips which are mounted above similar channels on centerserected by the ceiling contractor. The dimensions of such strips vary inaccordance with the installation, but are illustrative of a conventionalsupporting or hanger bar a strip five feet long, of one and five eighthsinch channel iron one sixteenth of an inch thick with a half inch lipmay be provided. Hitherto fixtures or ceiling boxes have been supportedfrom such 'bars by a straight bar hanger, which is usually wired to theU channel with tie wire. This arrangement is expensive and timeconsuming in labor and material for electrical contractors.

Additionally such fixtures have had the disadvantage of beingsusceptible to accidental or unintentional disengagement, and further,of requiring a relatively close fitting of the fixture stem or ceilingbox, in that no provision has been made for adjustability of the stemeither during or after installation.

A very important object of this invention is therefore the provision ofa fixture or ceiling box support or clamp which obviates all of theforegoing difficulties, as well as others which will be apparent as thedescription of the invention proceeds.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose aform of the device particularly adapted for use with a ceiling boxwherein the clamp includes a bight 125, and a top flange or leg 126having a tongue 127 struck therefrom, and a lower flange or leg 128 hasan upwardly extending flange 129 and an inwardly turned flange 130formed at the extremity thereof. A stud 131 is also provided, having aninternally threaded bore 132 for the reception of a clamping bolt, andbeing externally threaded as at 133 to accommodate a ceiling box.Suitable projections or tongues 134 are also provided for engagementwith the top of the outlet box.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved support for a fixture stern for a ceiling or wall box, or thelike, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, andothers, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

is claimed is:

A support adapted for the suspension of electrical fixtures or the likefrom a horizontally disposed channel shaped hanger bar, comprising asubstantially U-shaped clip including a bight portion adapted to seatagainst the base of the channel shaped hanger bar, a top leg adapted tooverlie the top wall of the hanger bar and rest thereon, said top legbeing of a length in excess of the thickness of the top of the hangerbar, a tongue struck from an intermediate portion of said top legadapted clamping'ly to engage the edge of the top wall of said channelshaped hanger bar, a lower leg of a length substantially equal to thelength of said top leg, a flange extending upwardly from the outerextremity of the lower leg, and an inturned flange extending from thetop of the first mentioned flange and adapted to overlie the top of thebottom wall of said channel shaped hanger, a stud having an internallythreaded bore adapted for the reception of a clamping bolt dependingfrom the underside of said lower leg, said stud being also externallythreaded, and tongues struck from and depending from the underside ofsaid lower leg adapted to engage the top of an outlet box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS800,727 Easton Oct. 3, 1905 1,332,690 Rosenteld Mar. 2, 1920 2,461,025Beck Feb. 8, 1949 2,480,805 Buckels Aug. 30, 1949 2,631,809 JacobsonMar. 17, 1953 2,713,983 Kay July 26, 1955 2,892,011 Glueckstein June 23,1959 2,917,199 Appleton Dec. 15, 1959 2,963,251 Fuss Dec. 6, 1960FOREIGN PATENTS 611,338 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1948

